Bus crime up in the City of Westminster

Local London Assembly member, Murad Qureshi, has accused Mayor Boris Johnson of taking his eye off the ball in the City of Westminster as new figures show bus related crime has risen 2.5 per cent.

The Mayor said last week crime on buses is down 30 per cent in London, although the rate is falling much slower than before he was elected.

The latest figures from Transport for London reveal that in some boroughs bus-related crime is on the up. Comparing data from October to December 2009/10 with the same period this year shows bus-related crime in Westminster has risen 2.5 per cent.

Across London, the number of drug and sexual offences, fraud, forgery and fare evasion has increased since Boris Johnson became Mayor in 2008.

Local London Assembly member Murad said:

"A safe and reliable public transport network is crucial to this city. Boris Johnson made a lot of promises and a lot of claims about crime, especially bus-related crime, so it’s worrying that it looks like he’s taken his off the ball."

"The truth is the number of sexual offences reported on buses has increased at a time when the Mayor is closing lots of ticket offices earlier and cutting the number of police."

While crime has fallen across London in the last two years, rate of decrease has slowed down significantly since Boris Johnson was elected.